At a Glance
- Maxim Naumov, 24, was officially named to the U.S. Olympic figure skating team on Jan. 11 after his performance at the U.S. Championships.
- His parents, Russian Olympic pairs champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, died in the Jan. 29, 2025 Potomac River plane crash that killed 67 people.
- During the team announcement, NBC played a childhood clip of Naumov calling the Olympics his “dream,” reducing him to tears.
- Why it matters: Naumov’s berth shows how sport can provide purpose and community in the wake of sudden, large-scale loss.
Maxim Naumov hid his face and cried on national television as NBC replayed a decades-old interview in which a five-year-old version of himself declared that competing in the Olympics was his greatest dream. On Jan. 11, that dream became reality when the 24-year-old was presented with an official Team USA jacket and named to the American men’s figure skating squad for the upcoming Games.
The moment arrived less than a year after Naumov’s parents-1994 World pairs champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova-were among the 67 victims of the Jan. 29, 2025 mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
From Grief to the Games
Naumov admitted he considered walking away from skating entirely while grieving. Instead, he returned to training, ultimately finishing high enough at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis to secure one of three men’s Olympic spots alongside Ilia Malinin and Andrew Torgashev.
During the Jan. 11 medal ceremony, an NBC host told the tearful skater, “Well, that dream has come true. You’re headed to the Olympics!”
Naumov later said every conversation with his parents eventually turned to the Games. “It means so much in our family, and it’s what I’ve been thinking about since I’ve been five years old, before I even knew how to think or what to think. I can’t even say in words how much this means to me.”
A Tribute on Ice
Three days earlier, Naumov had honored his parents by holding up a childhood photo of the three of them as he received his first-round score. The gesture moved him to tears and briefly placed him in the lead.
Asked what his parents might say now, Naumov replied, “They’d say, ‘We’re proud of you, but job’s not finished. We’re just getting started.'”
Finding Strength in Support
Naumov told reporters that the thousands of messages he has received since the crash have carried him through the darkest mornings and sleepless nights.
“Every message, every letter, every call, every text: I see it and it helps me just keep pushing through the difficult days, getting up and going to bed,” he said. “Thank you, everyone.”
The skater also credited his faith, exclaiming, “We did it! God is good” as he slipped on the Team USA jacket that seals his place on the Olympic roster.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional milestone: A childhood clip shown during team selection underscored how long Naumov has chased this goal.
- Family legacy: His parents’ 1994 World title set an Olympic standard he is now positioned to pursue.
- Public support: Messages from fans have been a lifeline, reinforcing the relationship between athlete and audience in times of tragedy.
- Next chapter: Naumov views Olympic selection not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a new competitive phase.
